Pages

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Trad Tuesday - Wild Mountain Thyme performed by Ed Sheeran

The Song Wild Mountain Thyme is also known as Will ye go Lassie, go and Purple Heather. The lyrics are a variant of the song The Braes of Balquhither by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810). Tannahill was a contemporary of Robert Burns and the song is about the hills (braes) around Balquihidder near Lochearnhead.

Francis McPeake from a well-known Belfast musical family set the words to music in the 1950's. That is the version heard today and performed by hundreds of musicians all over the world. The latest one that I've heard is performed by Ed Sheeran, the Scottish folk/pop singer.